The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

Tucson's Only LGBT Art Space Fluxx Moving Amid Financial Struggles

Tucson's sole lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community arts space, Fluxx Studio and Gallery, is moving from its current location on 414 E. 9th St.—which has been Fluxx's home since opening in 2011—amid rising rent, financial struggles, and, well, because the locale is up for sale.

In April 2014, Dante Celeiro, executive director of Fluxx, announced the studios' "imminent closure," also due to money strains. However, they ended up staying open, mostly thanks to community support. This time around, the studio hasn't said anything about a closure, even though this year they took a huge financial fall over problems with the state's liquor license laws. Without a license, many of the entities that rented Fluxx for events stopped doing so, because they were not allowed to serve booze. In the past, Fluxx has said that they couldn't afford a license, which is what triggered their possible closure last year.

As they prepare to move to another place, Fluxx is raising funds to help with the costs on a Go Fund Me page.

On Monday, Celeiro issued a letter to the community:

Through the commitment of countless passionate volunteers, donors, and collaborators like you, we have been able to continue to provide entertainment, art exhibitions, performances, workshops, classes, and more! In 2015 Fluxx made it possible for more than 6,000 people to connect to one another, to creativity, and to the community through our diverse events.
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Now, we face a new and greater challenge: Fluxx has to move! The space we have loved and dedicated to our community for so long is for sale and, given rising rent and lack of financing options, we are unable to continue in the present space.

The studio needs $18,000 for the new location. They have to move out of their current home by Jan. 31 of next year.

The move will give Fluxx more sustainable overhead costs so that we can continue to provide a safe space for the Tucson Queer community to come together!

We are so excited about what's to come, but we can't make it happen without a space and without you! Will you help us continue creating connections and supporting an under-served community? You have overwhelmed us with your generous support before and now we ask for your help again.

Under the Arizona State Tax Credit Program, every dollar of your donation of $200 (for single filers) or $400 (for joint filers) will be returned to you as a tax credit if we receive your donation by December 31, 2015.

We thank you for continuing to believe in and value our vision - we seriously could not do it without you!

Fluxx is hosting several events to raise money, including one tomorrow night, Dec. 9, that will involve drag and bingo! The Fluxx Drag Bingo Fundraiser starts at 7 p.m., with host Natalia Flores. The studio says 20 percent of all food and drink moneys will go to support the move.